Rigsum Gonpo-Tibet.

Rigsum Gonpo means the “Protectors of the three realms” and refers to Avalokiteshvara,Manjushri and Vajrapani. Four temples are dedicated to these deities in the cardinal directions of the old city of Lhasa,known as the north,south and west Rigsum Gonpo Temples. Although the east temple is not the others are now restored and functioning. South Rigsum Gonpo Temple is about three hundred yards west of Ani Sangkhung, on the same road. Reopened in 1990, the tiny chapel is taken care by three monks from Ganden Monastery,with which it is tradtionally connected. In addition to images of Avalokiteshvara,Manjushri and Vajrapani are status of Akshobhyavajra and palden Lhamo. North Rigsum Gonpo Temple is on the road between Ramoch and the Dickyi Shar Lam about fifty meters on the righ before you reach Ramoche itself. A simple sign indicates a narrow passageway that leads to the temple. It was completely gutted during cultural revolution and restoration began only in 1993 under the supervision of seven young nuns from Gari Nunnery,located behind Sera.Gold-on-red images of the four armed Avaloketeshvara are painted on the walls. The room next door,which is still not restored,was originally the principal shrine of this chapel. West Rigsum Gonpo Temple is about a hundred meters off the southwest corner of the plaza on the way to the local bus station. A sign in English ( ” The three protecting Lords Temple of the west”) directs you to the chapel. It was reopened in September 1989 by monks from Drephung Monastery with which it is associated. In the main shrine room, in additional to the triad of Avaloketeshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani are images of Padmasambhava,Abchi Drolma ( the protector of Drephung),Dorjee Drakden (Pehar) and Tsongkhapa. The temple also owns the woodblocks of several important Mahayana Buddhist Philosophical texts, copies of which are stored in the shrine and are for sale. On the upper floor is a small shrine to Padmasambhava and his two consorts, where special celebrations are offered on the tenth day of the lunar month.